{"id":692,"date":"2026-06-29T10:16:26","date_gmt":"2026-06-29T14:16:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cms.web.umflint.edu\/provost\/?page_id=692"},"modified":"2026-07-13T13:26:51","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T17:26:51","slug":"developing-credit-bearing-certificate","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/policies\/developing-credit-bearing-certificate\/","title":{"rendered":"Developing Credit-Bearing Certificate Programs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover fb-cover-text-box wp-duotone-black-and-white\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0;min-height:100%;aspect-ratio:unset;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/wp-content\/themes\/flintblock\/assets\/images\/sidewalk-art.jpg\" style=\"object-position:50% 95%\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" data-object-position=\"50% 95%\"\/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-90 has-background-dim wp-block-cover__gradient-background has-background-gradient has-blue-gradient-gradient-background\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-cover-is-layout-15d3db16 wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--70);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--70);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--70);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--70)\">\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-brand-white-color has-text-color has-link-color has-xx-large-font-size wp-elements-3ff8bde1fb9dab8d6850e45825e86c24\">Developing Credit-Bearing Certificate Programs<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-0e47273b wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:25%\"><nav class=\"is-responsive is-vertical is-style-sidebar is-style-sidebar--1 wp-block-navigation is-layout-flex wp-container-core-navigation-is-layout-bd946717 wp-block-navigation-is-layout-flex\" aria-label=\"Sidebar Navigation\" \n\t\t data-wp-interactive=\"core\/navigation\" data-wp-context='{\"overlayOpenedBy\":{\"click\":false,\"hover\":false,\"focus\":false},\"type\":\"overlay\",\"roleAttribute\":\"\",\"ariaLabel\":\"Menu\"}'><button aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-label=\"Open menu\" class=\"wp-block-navigation__responsive-container-open\" 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wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Home<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/academic-affairs\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Academic Affairs<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/leadership-searches\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Leadership Searches<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/communications\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Communications<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/newsletter\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Current Newsletter<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/faculty-staff-awards\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Faculty &amp; Staff Awards<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/jack-thompson\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Jack W. Thompson, M.D. Distinguished Visiting Professorship<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/academic-events\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Academic Events<\/span><\/a><\/li><li data-wp-context=\"{ &quot;submenuOpenedBy&quot;: { &quot;click&quot;: false, &quot;hover&quot;: false, &quot;focus&quot;: false }, &quot;type&quot;: &quot;submenu&quot;, &quot;modal&quot;: null, &quot;previousFocus&quot;: null }\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/navigation\" data-wp-on--focusout=\"actions.handleMenuFocusout\" data-wp-on--keydown=\"actions.handleMenuKeydown\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.openMenuOnHover\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.closeMenuOnHover\" data-wp-watch=\"callbacks.initMenu\" tabindex=\"-1\" class=\"wp-block-navigation-item has-child open-on-hover-click wp-block-navigation-submenu\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\" href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/resources\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Resources<\/span><\/a><button data-wp-bind--aria-expanded=\"state.isMenuOpen\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.toggleMenuOnClick\" aria-label=\"Resources submenu\" class=\"wp-block-navigation__submenu-icon wp-block-navigation-submenu__toggle\" ><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\" fill=\"none\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M1.50002 4L6.00002 8L10.5 4\" stroke-width=\"1.5\"><\/path><\/svg><\/button><ul data-wp-on--focus=\"actions.openMenuOnFocus\" class=\"wp-block-navigation__submenu-container wp-block-navigation-submenu\"><li class=\"wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/resources\/interfolio\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Interfolio Resources and Training<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/policies\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Policies<\/span><\/a><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-navigation-item wp-block-navigation-link\"><a class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__content\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/contact-us\/\"><span class=\"wp-block-navigation-item__label\">Contact Us<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:75%\">\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Policy Type:<\/strong> Administrative Policy<br><strong>Date Adopted:<\/strong> February 15, 2023<br><strong>Version:<\/strong> 2.0<br><strong>Review Cycle:<\/strong> Every 2 years<br><strong>Date Last Reviewed:<\/strong> May 22, 2025<br><strong>Office Responsible:<\/strong> Office of the Provost<br><strong>Approving Administrator:<\/strong> Vice Provost for Engaged Learning and Teaching Innovation<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-brand-blue-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-brand-blue-background-color has-background is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-x-large-font-size\">Policy Summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This policy provides requirements for faculty who are developing credit-bearing certificate programs at the University of Michigan-Flint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-large-font-size\">Scope<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Applies to:<\/strong> All undergraduate and graduate certificate programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-x-large-font-size\">Policy Statement<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A credit-bearing certificate at the University of Michigan-Flint is an award \u2013 requiring fewer credits than a Bachelor\/Masters\/Doctorate program \u2013 that appears on a student\u2019s official transcript. The following items must be followed when developing credit-bearing certificate programs at the University of Michigan-Flint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-large-font-size\">1. Purpose of Certificates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Certificates should provide students with a specialized set of courses that supplement a primary field of study, advance an area of expertise, or provide an interdisciplinary experience within a defined body of knowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-large-font-size\">2. Catalog Description Requirements<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each certificate program should draft a short introductory paragraph that will be shared on its catalog page, which clearly provides:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>An overview of the certificate program<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Examples of how the certificate can support a career path<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The student populations that may earn the certificate\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>E.g., \u201cThe public health certificate is open to all students, except those within the public health major.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-large-font-size\">3. Learning Outcomes and Assessment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each certificate program must:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Clearly define outcomes that demonstrate what knowledge and skills students will gain as a result of successfully completing the program<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ensure assessment processes that validate achievement of expected outcomes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-large-font-size\">4. Grade Requirements<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While programs may have individual grade requirements, the university defines successful completion of a certificate program as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A minimum grade of <strong>C (2.0)<\/strong> earned in each course within an undergraduate certificate program<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A minimum grade of <strong>B (3.0)<\/strong> earned in each course within a graduate certificate program<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-large-font-size\">5. Program Design and Scheduling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Certificate programs should be designed and courses scheduled in alignment with programmatic and student needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-large-font-size\">6. Credit Hour Requirements<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Certificate programs, including prerequisites, must be between <strong>9 and 18 credit hours<\/strong>, at least 9 of which must be taken at UM-Flint. Some post-graduate certificates, with accreditation requirements, may be excluded from this requirement at the discretion of the academic program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-large-font-size\">7. Currency of Coursework<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The university is committed to ensuring individuals earning certificates have a credential that is grounded in current knowledge and practice. Students pursuing a certificate who would like to count previously completed coursework older than 3 years must have it reviewed by the departmental\/programmatic home of the certificate to determine previous course content alignment to current certificate requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-large-font-size\">8. Double-Counting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Undergraduate to Graduate:<\/strong> Students who receive credit for undergraduate courses cannot receive graduate credit for such cross-listed courses.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Graduate Certificate with Graduate Degree:<\/strong> Graduate certificate programs may be taken separately or in conjunction with a graduate degree program, with credits from the certificate eligible to be used in the graduate degree program. Departments can determine which certificate credits, if any, can be used within a graduate degree program; such certificate credits can be used if the student has been admitted to the graduate degree program within seven years or corresponding to the time to degree requirements of the program when completing said courses.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Graduate Degree to Graduate Certificate:<\/strong> Graduate courses taken as a degree-seeking student may be used within a graduate certificate program if the student is admitted to the certificate program and courses are completed within seven years or corresponding to the time to degree requirements of the program.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-large-font-size\">9. Stand-Alone Certificates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Definition:<\/strong> Stand-alone certificates are designed for students not seeking a bachelor\u2019s, master\u2019s, or doctoral degree.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Completion Timeline:<\/strong> Students in a stand-alone certificate should be able to complete the certificate within 12-18 months. Individual plans of study can be negotiated at the discretion of the academic program, if needed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Financial Aid:<\/strong> Stand-alone certificates are not automatically eligible for federal financial aid but can become eligible through a separate application process. The academic program must contact the Office of Financial Aid to apply for federal financial aid eligibility for stand-alone certificates.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-large-font-size\">10. Stackable Credentials<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These credentials are a part of an educational pathway where skills and accompaniments earned build on each other leading to the student earning a higher-level credential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>To count toward a degree, a stand-alone certificate must be completed within five years of completing the degree. Any exception to the five years must be reviewed and determined by the departmental\/programmatic home of the certificate.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In cases where the same course is required among multiple certificates, its credits apply to the degree only once.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-large-font-size\">11. Approval Process<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Certificate approval follows the standard university approval process for new minors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-x-large-font-size\">Version History<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Date of Change<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Version<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Description of Change<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">February 15, 2023<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">1.0<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Adopted<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">May 22, 2025<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">2.0<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-left\" data-align=\"left\">Adopted (Updated time requirements from five to seven years in sections 8b and 8c)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-brand-blue-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-brand-blue-background-color has-background is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em><em>For questions about the new program approval process, please contact the Office of the Provost &amp; Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at <\/em><a href=\"mailto:umflintprovost@umich.edu\">umflintprovost@umich.edu<\/a><em>.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Policy Type: Administrative PolicyDate Adopted: February 15, 2023Version: 2.0Review Cycle: Every 2 yearsDate Last Reviewed: May 22, 2025Office Responsible: Office of the ProvostApproving Administrator: Vice Provost for Engaged Learning and Teaching Innovation Policy Summary This policy provides requirements for faculty who are developing credit-bearing certificate programs at the University of Michigan-Flint. Scope Applies to: All [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":37,"featured_media":0,"parent":683,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-692","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/692","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/37"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=692"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/692\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1460,"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/692\/revisions\/1460"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/683"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/provost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=692"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}